COLUMBIA, SC – Chris Chalko's three-point shot bounced off of the rim at the buzzer and Gardner-Webb survived a furious rally to edge Elon 68-65 Tuesday night in the consolation game of the South Carolina Regional of the 2003 Guardians Classic at the Colonial Center.

The Phoenix (0-2) saw an early 18-11 advantage eventually transformed into a 49-38 second-half deficit on a Brian Bender three-point field goal with 12:26 to play, but never gave up. A Scottie Rice fastbreak bucket led to an old-fashioned three-point play and was followed by a Ryan Jones basket to pull Elon within 49-43 with 11:25 on the clock.

Capped by an old-fashioned three-point play by Chris Wiggins, Gardner-Webb (1-1) reeled off five of the contest's next seven points to extend its edge to 54-45 with 10:14 remaining. The Phoenix used a 10-2 run to close the gap to 56-55 with 5:48 left on a pair of free throws by Rice.

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored seven of the next eight points to gain some breathing room at 63-56 on a Wiggins' three-pointer with 3:45 to play. Elon went on a 9-3 spurt to inch within 66-65 on a trey by Rice with 30 seconds remaining. A lay-up by Gardner-Webb's Bret Noonan with 14 ticks left set up Chalko's last-second shot and determined the final score.

GWU finished with edges in total field goal percentage (41.4-40.0), three-point field goal percentage (31.8-14.3), free throw percentage (68.4-58.8) and assists (18-13) while the Phoenix nipped the Bulldogs in rebounds (40-39), turnovers (19-20) and steals (10-7).

Bender – Gardner-Webb's only double-digit scorer – poured in a game-high 27 points while teammate Brendan Clowry hauled in a contest-best 12 rebounds. Elon was paced by Jackson Atoyebi (19 points), Rice (15 points – all in the second half) and Montell Watson (12 points, eight assists).

– ELON –

Game Box Score